Littleborough Rugby Club Celebrates 75 Year Anniversary

Guests at the Anniversary Celebrations

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Littleborough’s Rugby Union Club celebrated its seventy-five year existence in style with a black-tie dinner at Rochdale Town Hall. Players old and new celebrated the former Old Rochdalians Club milestone, so called because the players were all Old Boys of the Rochdale Grammar School.

Before the dinner organiser and former President Harry Hanson spoke to one of the clubs former players Jack Wright, who is now ninety years old, having played for the club when it was first formed in the early 1930s. A special mention went to Keith Miller who was one of the founders of the club which changed its name in the early 1980s when it moved to its modern Rakewood home in Littleborough.

As many past and present members were invited to the dinner, which was attended by 256 people. The guest list was not limited to local residents either with guests Ronnie Smiles flying in from Texas, and Alec Robertson making the trip from Jersey. Other attendees included members of the Lancashire Referees Society and Rochdale Rugby Union Club, whilst the Mayor, Councillor Jean Hornby was also present.

Guests gathered downstairs for a champagne reception and then enjoyed a delicious meal in the main hall, before the Kanoo Entertainment band performed long into the night, and many guests were still found on the dance floor at 1am when carriages were called.

Harry Hanson spoke after an enjoyable evening, “It has been tremendously successful, everyone I’ve spoken to commented on what a great time they’ve had and asked if we can repeat such a get together in the future.”

The next day there was a celebratory rugby match at Rakewood with present players taking on a team of exiled players. All of the dinner guests were cordially invited to the game and they enjoyed a splendid afternoon’s rugby.